As the Federal Government on Friday confirmed the first case of CORONAVIRUS in Nigeria, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has taken precautionary measures to secure its facilities by ensuring that passengers using its airstrip and jetties are screened upon arrival.

Checks by Kristina Reports show that the Dornier Aviation arrival and departure lounges in Lagos and Bonny, and at the Bouygues Jetty at Amadiama in Port Harcourt travellers were screened before boarding or alighting the flights and ferries.

Dornier Aviation manages the flights that convey NLNG staff to and from Bonny, Abuja and Lagos while Bouygues Nigeria Limited manages the ferries that convey the company staff between Bonny and Amadiama in Port Harcourt. 

Stakeholders had expressed worry over the public health integrity of its facilities given the number of expatriates working there.

Many were concerned about its shutdown billed for next week and the Train 7 project that is about to kick off in Bonny Island, Rivers State when the news of the reported case of an unnamed Italian national who tested positive to the Coronavirus in Lagos, Nigeria broke.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, said the Italian, travelled to Lagos and tested positive. His disclosure was later corroborated by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.

At the Finima Airstrip in Bonny this morning, health officials were seen checking the temperature of air travellers who arrived on the Dornier Aviation flight from Lagos and incidenting their particulars. Foreign nationals were also given a special questionnaire form to fill out certain details.

A source within the NLNG, who preferred anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the development, said, “this is the much we can do for now. As you know, this is being done everywhere else at the moment.”

“We are being cautious and also trying to ensure our facilities are safe and our staff and visitors are not exposed unduly. We are working in synergy with the government to ensure all entry points are secured.”

The SCD Group, a joint venture consortium, which is the preferred bidder for the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project, comprises Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo, and would be undertaking the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) project for the Train 7.

3Saipem S.p.A. is an Italian multinational oilfield services company and one of the largest in the world.